The JD Vance Factor In Dramatic White House Flare-Up And How Zelenskyy Queered His 'Diplomacy' Pitch | Video

Last Updated:March 01, 2025, 14:36 IST

Trump-Zelenskyy talks began on a positive note, with an exchange of compliments on Friday at the White House. However, it dramatically turned into a shouting match. Here's why

US Vice President JD Vance | File Image/AP

US President Donald Trump’s first meeting after returning to power in January with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky blew up when US Vice President JD Vance stressed the need for diplomacy to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war.

It all began on a positive note, with an exchange of compliments on Friday at the White House. Trump started by expressing his desire to be remembered as the peacemaker in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

However, it dramatically turned into a shouting match.

“For four years, the United States of America had a president who stood up at press conferences and talked tough about Vladimir Putin, and then Putin invaded Ukraine and destroyed a significant chunk of the country. The path to peace and the path to prosperity is, maybe, engaging in diplomacy," Vance said.

To this, Zelensky replied if he could ask Vance a question. “Sure. Yeah," Vance responded.

Zelenskyy pointed to Russia’s aggression in the years leading up to its full-scale invasion three years ago, including a failed ceasefire in 2019. “Nobody stopped him," he said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“He (Putin) killed our people, and he didn’t exchange prisoners," Zelenskyy said. “What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about? What do you mean?"

This is where the tension began, with Trump quickly stepping in to take on Zelenskyy.

As Zelenskyy openly denied following the diplomatic arrangements to reach a cease-fire with Russia, Vance reacted with frustration: “Mr President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the frontlines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president."

As the clash hyped up, Zelensky asked Vance if he had “ever been" to Ukraine to “see the problems" that they have.

“I’ve actually watched and seen the stories, and I know what happens is you bring people on a propaganda tour, Mr President," Vance said.

“Do you disagree that you’ve had problems with bringing people in your military, and do you think that it’s respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?" he added.

Reacting to it, Zelensky replied: “During the war, everybody has problems, even you (US). But you have a nice ocean and don’t feel it now, but you will feel it in the future."

Trump Intervenes 

Zelenskyy’s comment irked Trump and drew him into the clash, which had until then been confined to the Ukrainian President and the US Vice President.

“You don’t know that, don’t tell us what we are going to feel. We are trying to solve a problem. You are in no position to dictate that… You have allowed yourself to be in a very bad position. You don’t have the cards right now, with us you start having cards. You are gambling with the lives of millions of people. You are gambling with World War Three. And what you are doing is very disrespectful to this country," Trump said.

Referring to his predecessor Joe Biden, Trump then said that the US had given Ukraine $350 billion and military equipment through a “stupid president", adding that without the US military support, the war would have ended in two weeks and that Ukraine was in big trouble.

“I heard it from Putin in three days," Zelensky responded.

“It’s going to be a very hard thing to do business like this," Trump said.

“You’re buried there. Your people are dying. You’re running low on soldiers. No, listen… And then you tell us, ‘I don’t want a cease-fire. I don’t want a cease-fire. I want to go and I want this," he added.

“You’re not acting at all thankful. And that’s not a nice thing. I’ll be honest, that’s not a nice thing. All right, I think we’ve seen enough. What do you think? “This is going to be great television, I will say that," Trump said as he wrapped up the over 40-minute meeting.

After looking at the entire heated exchange, one can trace its origin. It was Vance’s remark, “The path to peace and prosperity may lie in engaging in diplomacy," that likely triggered the entire clash.

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